Advancing your Barre Body practice

If you’ve been attending Barre Body for more than a few months, now might be the time to begin advancing your practice. While each Barre Body class will always be different (to keep your muscles engaged), there are a number of variations you can take to increase the burn and get even more out of your classes.

When directed by your  instructor (so you know it’s safe and you’re not compromising your alignment in positions), here are some of the top ways to amp up your exercises:

• For certain arm exercises, increase your weight sizes (i.e. up from 1kg to 2kg).
• Always take the option to do certain exercises on releve (on your toes) when your instructor offers it. This is great when you’re in fold-over arabesque, getting stuck into thigh and glute work.
• When you’re in a plie holding on to the barre, deepen your plie until your thighs are parallel with the ground (hello, burn!).
• Make your movements smaller. Yes, it seems contradictory, but really narrowing your movements and honing in on the muscle at work will increase the effectiveness of your workout.
• Give yourself a balance challenge. Do a whole exercise with one or both hands off the barre, and feel your muscles engage. (If you’re lifting one hand off the barre – lift the same hand as your supporting leg).
• Try a floating lunge instead of a regular lunge (where your non-working leg stays off the floor).
• When you’re at the barre, place a prop (like a ball or block) under your heels and push down for more intense engagement through the front and back of your legs.

We’d love to know how you’re going in class and what your favourite ways are to advance your workout! Tell us in the comments section below.